Steering-gear.



E. GRUENFELDT.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1913.

1,272,800. Patented July 16, 1918..

3 SHEETS-SHEETQ.

:3 A a m I llmz 2 ,nnmnnanvam I NW 25 amue'wtoz mug E. GRUENFELDT.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1913.

1 ,272,800. Patented July 16,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ments shown in- Fig. 3, the lever ar'ms being wist snares rad ans ermine;

EMIL GRUENFELDT, or CLEVELAND, omo, ASSIGNOR, BY Mnsm: ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BAKER-R a l. com/mm, or CLEVELAND, omo, A CORPORATION or QHIO.

' STEERING-GEAR.

nafzasoo.

; Speciflcaticn of Letters Patent. Patented J1 nly 16, 19180 7 Application filed March 17, 1913. Serial No. 754,581.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMIL GRUENFELDT, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Steering-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steering gears .or mechanism for motor vehicles. The invention has for its object to provide means for reducing, and overcoming or absorbing the shocks and jars on the steering arm, wheel or leverof the vehicle due to contact of the steering wheel or wheels of'the vehicle with obstructions and uneven surfaces over which the vehicle is traveling, with resulting relative movementof frame and body to the.

steering axle and oscillation or swinging of the steering wheels about their steeringv axes, respectively. I

For the purpose of illustration, I have in the accompanylng drawings, shown and herein'descrlbed one form ofsteermg mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure l is a fragmentary view of the motor vehicle, the body of the vehicle being omitted, embodyin myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectlon on the line 2'2 of Fig-1. V

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating certain details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the devices separated. Y

Fig. 5 is a'bottom plan view of the studshaft and base therefor.

Fig. 6 is a-bottom plan view of the eleomitted.

Fig. 7 is a section .on the line 77 of Fig.3.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a suitable frame, a fragmentary portion only ofwhich is shown, 2 the steering wheels for the vehicle, 3 the axle for the wheels, 2 and A: springs interposed between the axle 3 and frame 1. Each of these springs is pivotally connected at its front end to the frame at 4 and has its rear end shackled at P to the frame. 5 indicates a steering knuckle between each wheel 2 and the axle 3. Each knuckle 5 is rovided with an arm 5 which is connected y a tie rod 6 with the arm 5 ofthe other knuckle, whereby both wheels may be swung or moved simultaneously and to a like degree.

The parts above referred to may be'of any arm, or lever -9 of the vehicle which the driver of the vehicle operates to-swing'the wheels 2 to steer it.

Of the steering connections 8, 10 indicates a vertically disposed rod or bar to which the vehicle steering arm or lever 9 is pivotally connected in a well known manner to swing in vertical planes. This rod or bar 10 may,

adjacent to its lower end, be pivotally mount-1 i I 7 ed to swin aboutits axis inany; well known manner.

or the purpose of illustration have'shown it mounted to swing in a journal piece 11 which in turn is pivotally mounted at 11 in a bracket 12 rigidly secured tothe frame-of the chassis. 13 is an armor lever rigidly secured to the lower end ofthe bar 10 at one end and at'its other end having universal connection 14 with a rod or bar 15.

to one arm, 17, ofwhich the opposite end ofthe liiember 16 is pivotally connected, preferably by a universal connection 16, and to the other arm, 17, of which the free end of the rod 15 is pivotally connected as by a universal joint17; 18 indicates a stud shaft,

which preferably depends from a cross bar 1 of the frame. 1, and is preferably provided with a suitable bushing 18 to rotatably support the lever 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A plate 18*, having av base 18, to which the shaft 18 is fixed in any preferred manner, may be secured to the under face of the cross member 1 and serve as the support for the shaft 18.

19 indicates as an entirety devices for absorbing the shocks and jarso-n the steering mechanism caused by the contact of the steering wheels with-obstructions and uneven surfaces over avhich they travel. These devices are preferably interposed between the lever'17 and its supporting means. I preferably provide two sets of shock absorbing devices 19, 19 arranged on opposite sides of the lever 17, as shown in the drawings. 7

Of the shock absorbing devices 19 (referring to the set of devices arranged between the upper side of the lever 17 and the base 18), 19 indicates a friction plate fixed to the base 18 by a pin or key 19 carried by the base 18- and fitting an opening 19 formed in the plate 19 The plate 19 is preferably of circular shape and formed with an axial opening which permits it to be placed over the shaft 18.

, friction plate movable with the lever 17.

This plate is preferably similar in shape and size to the stationary plate 19 and formed with an axial opening which permits it to rotatably fit the shaft 18. The plate 20 is also formed with an opening 20 to receive a pin or key 2O by means of which it is fixed to the upper side of the lever 17. The plates 19*, 20, are preferably formed from brass. 21 indicates a disk or washer loosely mounted on the shaft 18 and interposed between the friction plates 19 and-20. The disk or washer 21 is preferably similar in size and shape to the plates 19, 20, and may be formed of leather.

The shock absorbing devices 19 arranged at the lower side of the lever 17 are preferably similar in construction to the set of devices just described, except that the fric tion plates 19 and 20 are in reverse arrangement, that is to say, the movable plate 20 is arranged above the stationary plate 19 with the washer 21 between them. The stationary plate 19 of the lower set of shock absorbing devices 19 may be provided with a projection 20 which fits a groove "or recess 2O 'formed in the shaft 18, to hold the plate stationary thereon.

22 indicates a yieldabledevice, preferably comprising a resilient plate, loosely fitting the shaft 18 and arranged to bear against the lower stationary -friction plate 19. 23 indicates a nut screw threaded to the free end of the shaft 18 and arranged to hold the resilient plate 22 in operative engagement with the adjacent plate 19. friction plates and disks constituting the sets of shock absorbing devices and the lever 17 aremovable endwise on the shaft 18, it will be understood that the tension of the yieldable device 22 will be transmitted by each of these parts to the other so that the stationary and movable plates of each set of shock absorbing devices will engage the interposed disk or washer with considerable friction and result in absorbing the shock due to the contact of the steering wheels with obstructions and prevent them from being transmitted to the steering arm, Wheel 20 indicates a.

As the or lever of the vehicle. As will be readily understood, the nut 23 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the tension of the yield-- able device 22. As shown at 2 1, the nut may surrounding the lowermost friction plate of each set of devices 19 and interposed between it and the circumferential wall of the adjacent cup member 25*. The periphery of the lowermost friction plate of each set of devices 19 is preferably formed with a groove within which the ring 25 fits. The ring 25 closes the space between the friction plate and the open end of the cup memher and thus operates to keep out-of the shock absorbing devices dust, dirt, grit and other foreign matter which would in any manner afiect their operation and durability.

Each member 25 is formed with an axial opening to receive the shaft 18, and also withan aperture 25 to receive the pin 19 or 20 to connect it to the adjacent friction plate.

Each of the pivotal connections in the train of connections indicated as an entirety by 8 is preferably of the ball and socket type, that is, in nature a universal connection, and each, of them should, as it does, permit relative horizontal movement of the parts of the steering mechanism which it connects. p

In motor vehicles in which it is found most convenient for any of many reasons to use a steering arm or lever, mounted to swing about the axes both of horizontally and vertically disposed pivots, (as contradistinguished from the well known type of wheel steer) and in which a longitudinally disposed rod serves to connect an arm corresponding to the arm 7 on a steering knuckle, to a lever arm at the lower end of a vertically disposed steering post corresponding to the one I have designated 13, in actual practice in driving a vehicle thus steered over a roadway with a rough surface, such as stone blocks, uneven bricks, rough asphalt, or macadam and the like, as the steer-v ing Wheels accommodate themselves to the unevennesses of such road surface, an undesirable vibrating of the end of the steering 'ment of my invention is peculiarly suited for use in connection with steering mecha nism embracing a lever or arm for retention in the hand of the operator. By this it is not to be understood that my idea is not likewise applicable in connection with the wheel type of steering mechanism as generally constructed, as it may be used therewith, only it does not necessarily possess as many distinct advantages in connection with the wheel type of steering mechanism as itdo'es with the arm or lever type.

In operation, assuming that the steering wheels, as disclosed in Fig. 1, meet with an unevenness in road surface which tends to swing them slightly in clockwise direction about the axes of their respective steering knuckles, this will cause the arm 7 to similarly swing about the axis of the steering knuckle with .whichit is" connected, and, since the rod 16 has connection at one end with the arm 7 and at its other end with one arm of the lever 17, the movement of the rear end of the arm 7 if it is greater than may be absorbed between the universals at opposite ends of the rod 16, will impart to the lever 17 anti-clockwise movement of that lever about the axis of the shaft 18; some of the motion which is thereby imparted to the otherarm of the bell crank lever 17 may be absorbed in the universal oints at opposite ends of the rod 15. a -In' this consideration I have not'contemplated the shock absorbing characteristics of the sets of shock absorbing devices 19, 19, treating them as .not present. It will be understood that if I we treat them as present, they in-turn tend to absorb shocks or thrusts delivered to the bell crank lever through the rod .16. Furthermore, the presence. of the shock absorbing mechanism at 19, tending to prevent as it does rotation in either direction ofthe bell crank lever 17 serves to hold the universal connection between one arm of the bell crank lever and the rod 16 in such manner as to insure that the universals at the opposite ends of the rod 16 will accommodate to their full extent slight oscillation of the rear end of the arm 7 without imparting corresponding movements to. the

' bell crank lever 17. -In other words my arrangement of connecting devices between the steering arms 7 and 13 is such as to tend to absorb or direct away from the arm 13 slight vibratory "movements of the rear end of the arm 7, due to corresponding vibratory movements of the steering wheel, in such manner as not to reach the arm 13 and through it impart corresponding undesirable vibration to the steering lever 9 in the hand of the operator, while "at the same time and at all times having the control of the steering of the steering wheels instantly and positively at the command of the operator. i

The relative up and down movement of the frame 1 to'the axle 3 during expansion and contraction or lengthening and shorten-. ing for any reason of the springs 4 tends to vary the distance between the lower end of the bar 10 and the axle 3 and arm 7 carried thereby. It will be noted that the connections 8 between the rear end of th lever 7 and the free end of thelever 13 are such as to accommodate for this relative movement to quite an extent withoutjmparting undesirable thrusts or jerksv to the steering gears of this general-type nowcustomarily used, resultingin' disagreeable vibration of the steering arm 9.

Furthermore, as the end of the rod 16 connected to the lever 17 is relatively close to the axle 3, when theframe rises and falls relative to the axle in the ordinary operation of the car and the springs are thereby correspondingly lengthened or shortened, causing relative movement of the arm 7 to the frame, the rear end of which is connected to the rod 16, the tendency of the arm 16 to impart corresponding movement to the lever 17 is greatly minimized.

The interposition in the train of steering connections of a shock absorbing device having the functions of the one at 19, I have found to be of considerable advantage; though it is not absolutely essential. l Vh'en employed, however, it cooperates with the elements interposed betweenrthe arms 7 and 13 to accomplish a desired result.

It should be observed that I have disposed the transverse frame member 1 well forward, so that the lever 17 carried thereby has its front arm 17 a disposed relatively close to the steering axle 3. This makes it possible to arrange the connecting rod 16 obliquely, as shown, so that the latter as an entirety lies relatively close to the steering axle and finds ample clearance between the longitudinal frame bar 1 and the adjacent springs,

while at the same time the leverage of the paratus of the class described many alterations in construction and widely difie-ring embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be'in any senselimiting.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus of the class described, the

, combination of a frame, a hand steeringdevice swiveled thereon, a rod disposed longitudinally of said frame and pivotally connected to the lower end of said hand steering device, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said frame and having one of its ends connected with the front end of said to the other end of said lever, and means connecting said axle and frame together.

2. In apparatus-of the class described, the combination of an axle having steering knuckles connected together-for simultaneous operation and a steering arm, a frame, means connecting said frame and axle together, a rod disposed obliquely to the steering axle and having its rearmost end pivotally connectedto the free end of sa d steering arm'and disposed to receive therefrom and deliver thereto thrusts at an angle to said steering arm and to said frame, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said frame and having one endpivotally connected to the foremost endof said rod, a hand steering device swiveled on said frame, and a rod pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of said hand steering device and at its other end to the other arm of said lever.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame. a longitudinally disposed r0d,-a rod disposed at an angle to said longitudinally disposed rod, a lever 'pivota lly connected to said frame and having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of said rods respectively, a

hand steering device swiveled on said frame and connected at its lower end with the ad- I jacent end of said longitudinally disposed rod, an axle having steering knuckles connected together for simultaneous operation and a steering arm with its free end pivotally connected to the adjacent end of said second above mentioned rod, the latter being disposed obliquely to the steering axle with its last mentioned end rearmost, and-connections between saidaxle and frame.

' 4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a pair of steering rods disposed at an angle to each other, and one obl quely to the frame, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said frame and having its ends pivotally connected to adjacent ends of said rods, respectively, an axle having steering knuckles connected together for simultaneous operation and a steering arm with its free end pivot ally connected to the rearmost end of the oblique rod, a hand steering device swiveled on said frame and having its lowerend pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the second of said steering rods, and a resilient support between said frame and axle.

5: In apparatus of the class described, the

comloinationof a frame, a lever pivoted in-' steering rod, an axle having steering knuc kles connected together for simultaneous movement and a steering-rod pivotally con.- I

nected at its free end to the rearmost end of said oblique steering rod, and a resilient upport between said axle and frame.

6. In steering mechanism for vehicles, the combination with an axle, steering wheels thereon, means connecting said steering wheels together for simultaneous movement about their respective steering axes, a frame supported at one end on said axle, anda handsteering device, of a steering arm for said axle, a lever pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said frame,a rod disposed obliquely to the frame and'pivotally connected at its foremost end to oneend of said lever and at its other end to said steering arm, and connections between the other end of said lever and said hand steering device.

7 In steering mechanism for vehicles, the

combination of an axle having steering knuckles connected by. a tie rod and asteering arm rigidly secured'at one end to one of said knuckles,.a frame, means supporting one end of said frame-on said axle, a hand steering device swiveled on said frame, and means connecting the lower end of said hand steering device to the free end of said steering arm, said means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said frame, a rod disposed obliquely of said frame and connected at one end to its foremost arm of said lever and at its other end to the free end' of the steering arm, and a rod disposed longitudinally of said frame and connected at its front end to the other arm of said pivoted lever and at its rear end to said hand steering device.

8. In steering mechanism for vehicles, the combination of a frame, a hand steering device swiveled thereon, a rod disposed longitudinally of said frame and pivotally connected to the lower end of said hand steer-' ing arm with its free end connected to the other, rearmost end of said rod, and means for resiliently supporting the frame on said axle.

9. In steering mechanism for vehicles, the combination of a frame, a hand steering device swiveled thereon, a rod disposed longitudinally of said frame and pivotally connected to the lower end of said hand steering device, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said frame and having one of its the combination of a frame, a hand steering. device swiveled thereon, a rod disposed longitudinally of said frame and pivotally connected to the lower end of said hand steering device, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said frame and having one of its ends connected With the front end of said longitudinally disposed rod, an axle having steering knuckles connected together for simultaneous operation and a steering arm, a rod pivotally connected to one end of said steering arm and having its other end pivotally connected to the other end of said lever, means connecting said axle and frame together, and a shock absorbing device interposed between said lever and said frame.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said frame, a shock absorbing device interposed between said lever and said frame, an axle havingsteering knuckles and means connecting said knuckles together for simultaneous operation, steering connections between said steering knuckles and one end of said lever, a hand steering device, and steering connections 'between said hand steering device and the other end'of said lever.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a hand steering device mounted thereon, a rod disposed and shiftable longitudinally of said frame and operatively connected at its rear end to said hand steering device, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said frame and having one of its ends connected to the front end of said longitudinallydisposed rod, an

axle having steering knuckles connected together for simultaneous operation, a rod disposed obliquely to the steering axle and pivotally connected at its foremost end to the other end of said lever, means connecting the other end of said rod and said steering knuckles together, and means connecting said axle and frame together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

. EMIL GRUENFELDT.

' Witnesses:

WM. E. SCHOLES,

FRED W. JOHNSON. 

